投弹 (tóu dàn) — to drop a bomb (from an aircraft); to throw a h…

Definition

A separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to drop a bomb' or 'to throw a grenade' — typically split with 了 or a complement (投了弹, 投弹投得很准).

verb

to drop a bomb (from an aircraft)to throw a hand grenade

。
Kōng jūn zài mù biāo qū yù tóu le tán.
The air force dropped bombs on the target area.
，投弹。
Xùn liàn zhōng, shì bīng men xué huì le tóu dàn.
During training, the soldiers learned to throw grenades.
投弹。
Tā tóu dàn tóu dé hěn zhǔn.
He throws grenades very accurately.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

投 is to throw, and 弹 is a bomb, so it means to throw a bomb.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌殳投

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

殳

殳shū投tóu

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 shows a hand, and the right part 殳 gives the sound of the character.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

弓單彈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

單

單dān彈tán

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

Appears in